Chinese Man Dies After Falling from Airport Guardrail in Japan: Social Media Debate Erupts over "Why Did He Go?" and "Why Did He Come?"

Chinese Man in His Twenties Dies While Visiting Japan with His Mother
Falls from Airport Guardrail in Osaka
Photos and Videos Spread, Sparking Debate on Chinese and Japanese Social Media
"Why Go Somewhere Dangerous?" vs. "Why Come Here?"
Japanese Police: "Responded Immediately, But Could Not Prevent the Fall"

A Chinese man sitting on the roadside guardrail at Kansai Airport in Japan (left) and a Japanese police officer rescuing him. SNS capture

An online debate has erupted on social media platforms in both China and Japan following the death of a Chinese man in his twenties who was visiting Japan with his mother. Amid the recent deterioration in China-Japan relations, the incident has sparked unverified claims among Chinese netizens, including assertions that "it is dangerous to travel to Japan right now."

According to media reports from Japan, China, and other sources, at around 2:30 p.m. on November 25, a report was made that "there is a man sitting on a wall and he looks like he is about to fall" on the fourth floor of Terminal 1 at Kansai Airport in Izumisano City, Osaka Prefecture. When police arrived at the scene, the man was already hanging from the wall with both hands. Although the officer tried to pull him up, he fell to the first floor. He was transported to the hospital but died. It is said that he was traveling in Japan with his mother. The reason why he was sitting on the guardrail remains unknown, and speculation is rampant on social media. Hong Kong media reported that "local Chinese residents said some people saw the deceased arguing with family members who were traveling with him at the airport."

Videos and photos of the incident quickly spread across social media in both countries. Chinese netizens in particular responded with comments such as "Why don't people listen to the government's advice not to travel to Japan?" "This was inevitable," and "Japan is dangerous." Videos and photos believed to have been taken at the scene attracted significant attention on Chinese social media, and the news comment sections were filled with various reactions. Some even spread unfounded claims such as "He brought it upon himself" and "The police officer deliberately let go after hearing Chinese." On the other hand, there were also responses like "We should not stigmatize traveling to Japan at this time," and "The Japanese police officer must be traumatized and may need counseling." Japanese netizens commented, "I hope the travel advisory against visiting Japan continues," "Why come here and cause trouble?" "The police officer genuinely tried to help," and "A detailed investigation into the circumstances of the incident is needed."

As the controversy grew in both countries, Japanese media outlet J-CAST News reported on the local police's rescue efforts. According to the local police, when they arrived at the scene in a patrol car, the man was sitting on the wall. Upon seeing the police car, he hung from the wall. The officer got out of the car and grabbed the man's arm, but the man slipped from his clothes, lost his grip on the wall, and fell. It cannot be conclusively determined whether it was a suicide. Since the officer arrived and the man fell immediately, there was no time to prepare measures such as placing a mat on the ground. The fourth floor of the airport houses the international departure area, and it is reported that the man had been with his mother until just before the incident. Local police stated, "It appears he was scheduled to board a flight back to China."